The ABCD&E of Electing Leaders
It is election season
in Kenya again! Both strategic and crafty politicians search and clamor for
votes by making white washed promises to gullible voters. This too, is the season
when the pendulum of power swings towards the voters to exercise the rights to
hire and fire leaders. During this time some politicians, beg, plead and cajole
illiterate voters with a tribal charge. But how can the voter be empowered to
carry out their sacred duty to elect good leadership? It is no good wasting
time moaning if you do not vote. But I propose the we do away with voter
education and embark on voter empowerment to bring in a good harvest of leaders.
The educated voter knows how to correctly place the ballot in the box, but the
empowered voter knows whom to select and elect. The educated voter knows which
leader is on the ballot box, but the empowered voter knows whom to select to
raise the bar of leadership in the constituency. It is beyond the voters to determine
who will stand for any position, but it is in the power of the voter to select
the best from among those who present themselves on the basis of Attitude,
Benevolence, Character, Diligence and Experience. The empowered voter takes a
little time to do some basic research and subjects each candidate to the following
test to find the best.
Attitude
One dictionary
describes attitude as “a settled way of thinking or feeling about something”. What
is the attitude of the candidate to his or her voters? Is it one of affiliation,
tolerance and acceptance. Does the candidate despise others as lesser than himself?
Is the politicians’ attitude virtuous, arrogant or careless in dealing with the
delicate matter of leadership? Most people can pick up an attitude far more
quickly than it takes to describe it. It is time to exercise this powerful leader
selection tool.
Benevolence
Under normal
circumstances, benevolence is charitable, philanthropic and sacrificial. It
does not need to dish out money to get attention. Many politicians come to the
season with goodies to buy their way back to office with platitudes and practiced
emotional gymnastics. If you are having difficulty with this sudden display of
affection, take a look into their past for clues as to whether the behavior is
genuine or not.
Character
While it is
listed third in this criteria, character is in fact first and overarching over
the others. Does the candidate display a consistent, commitment and courage to realistically
address the issues as they are? Do they have the courage and ability to speak the
truth to power? Do they act in line with a core and predictable value system? Beware
of the Leopard standing among Sheep and promising that he will never eat them.
The only evidence of a renewed character is to bear fruits in line with that
repentance. If there is no fruit, there certainly is no change of character.
Diligence
Diligence,
discipline and determination are human qualities critical for the success of
any human endeavor. However, just like character, these must be in evidence
long before the person becomes interested in the campaign for office. Even the
most wicked dictators can display this quality. so one must examine the
principles and vision for which this displayed discipline is assigned. There
are corrupt diligent candidates whose master is the satisfaction of their personal
lives.
Experience
Then there are
the experienced, educated, exposed and experts in various fields that will also
be seeking office. But before you fall for the, “I have long experience” ruse
remember that it is possible to work in an organization for a decade, learn
nothing in that time and come away with one years’ experience repeated ten
times. Experience should translate to the accumulation of valuable wisdom and the
establishment of societal benefit.
Finally,
consider that out of the five, ten or twenty candidates they are all imperfect
mortals. But there is no need to pick the most voluble or least intelligent in the
panel if there is a better option available. My dear voters take time to study
these words and give a good account of yourselves as empowered voters to raise
the bar of leadership in our land.
Allan Bukusi is an adjunct lecturer of
leadership at Ashesi University in Ghana.
allanbukusi@gmail.com
